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Monday, March 10, 2014

Author Spotlight - Lindsay J. Pryor

We're very happy to welcome Lindsay J. Pryor to the minxes spotlight today, so without further ado, here's her answers to the minx questions!

Tell our readers a little something about yourself.I’m the author of the dark paranormal romance series, Blackthorn. I was discovered
by my publisher through Harlequin Mills & Boon’s New Voices Competition
after I was a finalist in both 2010 (Blood
Roses) and 2011 (Blood Shadows,
then known as Beguiling The Enemy). Blood Shadows has recently gone on to
become a No. 1 Best Seller in Gothic Romance on Amazon.com and Paranormal
Vampire Romance on Amazon UK. As well as being an author, I’m a special needs
teacher and I live in the South West of England with my husband and our rescue
bunny.

What number book is this? First? 100th?
200th? (Nora only!)Blood Torn
is the third in the Blackthorn series. I’ve got several books outside of
Blackthorn locked safely away in my bottom door – but most won’t ever be
granted bail, let alone release. I’m currently writing the fourth book in the
series, Blood Deep, which was signed
a few weeks ago.

What inspired this book?The series started as a concept over 16 years ago with
the ‘third species’ (vampires, lycans etc) forced into an oppressive
human-ruled system that they need to somehow break out of. It was inspired by
me getting lost in an isolated and run-down part of the city I had just moved
to. The forbidden romances that evolved within that world became inevitable
because I’m a romance writer at heart. I soon found that those romances were
the driving force for the change this world was going to face. So, after
deciding on the series ending and working backwards in loops, each book became
inspired by the catalysts that needed to happen for this change to take place.

Who or what was the inspiration for your hero?Jask (leader of the lycans in Blackthorn) is an
integral component in the eventual outcome of the series. But if you mean a
physical inspiration, there wasn’t one. I’ve never used images or real people
to inspire. When I needed to help the cover designer out though, I sent through
an image of Josh Holloway. He’d make a perfect Jask.

Have you any burning ambitions to write a story in
a different genre?I think I’ll always slant to either paranormal or
psychological thrillers – in Blackthorn’s case, both.

Outside of romance, I’ve got a supernatural crime thriller
(though with romantic elements admittedly!) I’ve had underway for a number of
years that I’m aiming to polish in the forthcoming months. Away from paranormal
completely, I’ve also got a romantic psychological thriller I’m writing. It’s
very dark, of course, as that type of hero has become something of a trademark
now.

What was the most fun part of writing this book?I love it when the characters take over – when they
write their own dialogue, turn left instead or right, reveal things I hadn’t worked
out for myself yet, anything like that. I’m quite stringent with how I want a
story to turn out because I can’t unravel too many plot threads in the series,
but I always enjoy it when characters take things into their own hands (within
reason!). Phia, the heroine of Blood Torn,
was real handful and the most unpredictable character I’ve had to manage – but
a fun challenge. I’m just glad she walked into Jask and not Kane or Caleb.

How long does it take you to complete a book?With the first three in the Blackthorn series, which
range between 115-140,000 words, they each took me about 3 months to write the
first draft then maybe another two-three months of redrafts or edits. This is
bearing in mind though that Blackthorn has been under construction for years
with lots of groundwork in the background in terms of characterisation,
world-building and plotting, so it’s not like starting a novel completely from
scratch.

In general, I think it depends on the complexity and
length as well as how clear a story is in my head before I start. I’ve always
found my standalones quicker to write because I can focus on one book rather
than write back and forth between books to ensure everything fits together.

Where do you write?In terms of planning, I have a notebook with me
wherever I go (except on my teaching days). As for actual writing, I’ve not
quite mastered writing outside of my house yet – mainly because I have a habit
of talking aloud when I’m absorbed! Any first drafts are written on my laptop
because it doesn’t have any internet connection, thus no temptation to surf!
I’m often sat in my lounge keeping my house bunny company during that stage.
When it comes to redrafts, edits and polishing, I sit at my desk in my study.
Before all of that happens, in the very early stages of devising a book, I’ve
always had a habit of pacing around the house as I mull. I’ve now invested in a
treadmill to avoid the floors wearing out.

Do you connect with your readers at all, and if so
which is your favourite platform for reaching them?I connect with my readers regularly, mostly via
Twitter and Facebook or through my website. A lot of my readers like to connect
with me through email too, especially those who don’t like chatting in an open
forum – which I totally get that having avoided it for so long myself. The main
thing for me is enabling readers to contact me whichever way they prefer.
There’s nothing quite like hearing from someone enjoying the series.

Book Blurb
for Blood Torn

‘Vampires
might bite, honey, but lycans tear.’

Jask
Tao, lycan leader, rules his pack with absolute dedication and demands the same
loyalty in return. In the world of Blackthorn, where respect is a rare
commodity, Jask has earned his – few dare to cross him, and fewer survive to
tell the tale.When he
captures Sophia, a rare serryn witch – whose blood is lethal to vampires – Jask
knows just how valuable she can be. Despite her fiery nature, he also can’t
shake the feelings that she rouses in him – feelings that he thought died along
with Ellen, his mate.Sophia
knows she has to escape from Jask’s lycan compound – and fast. Inheriting her
sister’s serryn powers can only mean one thing – that her family is at risk.
She’ll have to get past the dangerously attractive Jask first but, scarred by memories
of her mother’s murder, Sophia won’t ever give up.Sparks
fly between Jask and Sophia but, as both her family and the pack come under
threat, they might just need each other if they, and their loved ones, are
going to stay alive…

In this thrillingly sensual novel, Lindsay J.
Pryor returns to the shadowy dystopian world of Blackthorn, where tensions are
rising, the risks are high, and the most powerful loves are formed in the face
of great danger.

I'm a big fan of the Blackthorn series. I love the environment Ms. Pryor has created. It's very original and well thought out. Enjoy meeting all the new characters which show up there as well. Very well written and hard to get out of your head. Looking forward to book 4.